Steam-engine valve.



Ida/663,079. Patented 1m. 4, I900.

' 'G. n. HUNTER.

STEAM ENGINE VALVE.

(Apphcntlon filed June 7, 1900 (No Model.)

III I tiiiii Qiiig UNITED STATES P TENT FFICE.

STEAM-ENGINE VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,079, dated December 4, 1900.

Application filed June 7, 1900. b'erial No. 19,450- (No model.)

To on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bloomington, in the county of Monroe and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Steam-Engine Valves; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in steam-engine valves and is embodied in the construction and arrangement of parts presently to be described and defined in the claims.

The object of the invention is to construct a steam sliding valve in such a manner that its carrier or holder may have a free movement against lateral steam-pressure, while at the same time the valve will be by steampressure held tightly against its seat or sufficiently tight to prevent the escape of steam and to permit its reciprocating movement.

Heretofore sliding 'valves have been made with a holder, the same being integral with each other, so that the steam-pressure on the valve would have a tendency to also press the holder against the steam-cylinder. My invention is designed to overcome this largely by forming the valve independent of the holder and free to move, thereby permitting the said holder to have a slight quiver or vibrating motion in its travel, which motion is prevented from being transmitted to th e valve proper.

The above-described results are accomplished by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a steamvalve chest. Fig. 2 is an end view of the holder. Fig. 3 isaside view. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal section through the valve and the holder.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

A indicates the chest, having the inlet-ports a and an exhaust-port a.

B and B designate the caps and stuffingbox, respectively, and through the latter the valve-stem B passes. r

0 indicates the holder, which is formed convenientlyofablock of metal havingasubstantially U-shaped cavity extending longitudinally therein and through its side. This holder is formed with a series of channels 0, c, and 0, extending longitudinally, the intervening ribs being fashioned to fit closely against the inner wall of the cylinder, the construction being for the purpose of lightening the holder and reducing the frictional engaging surface. In the wall C of the holder is formed acurved groove 0 which is engaged by a pin D, located in the recess formed in the casing of the chest or cylinder. The pin is spring-backed, the tension of the spring being adjusted by a screw (1. The end of the pin D closely fits in the groove and being spring-pressed has a tendency to force the holder onto the opposite side of the cylinder or chest.

E designates a stub or pin formed on the holder and designed to enter and work in a groove in the cylinder-wall for the purpose of preventing rotation of the holder. The holder at a point diametrically opposite the curved groove and actuated pin is formed with a rectangular channel, as shown in Fig. 2, and a transverse channel F of a depth greater than the depth of the rectangular channels, thereby forming a clearance or space below the plane of the bottom of the rectangular channels.

G designates the sliding valve, having a curved outer face in which is formed a duct or steam-passage g, the length of which corresponds with the distance between the exhaustand supply ports. This valve is constructed with its opposite end portions flat, as shown at g, which flat portions are seated on the fiat bases of the rectangular grooves of the holder. Between the flat portions of the valve is a depending portion H of a width to fit between the side walls of the transverse groove of the holder. This projected portion H has a transverse groove it formed therein for the purposes of increasing the size of the steam-passage between the valve'andholder.

This is clearly shown in Fig. 4E.

The end ofthe valve G projects longitudinally beyond the holder for a well-known purpose. The transverse channel in the holder terminates in curved channels or depressions h, which latter are of a greater depth than the longitudinal grooves of the holder, so that steam being admitted into the cylinder will find ready access to the space between the valve and holder. The holder is conveniently secured to the valve-stem by any desired or well-known means, the stern passing through the U-shaped slot therein; and in this connection I desire it understood that the connection between the stem and the holder may be efiected in any wellk-nown or desired manner.

In operation when the steam is admitted to the valve-cylinder, it will at once have a tendency to force the valve closely against the seat and so without the tendency to force the holder against the sides of the cylinder, While at the same time it will be noticed that the'valve being independent of the holder it has no tendency to drag the holder with it, as the valve is lifted to its seat by the steam.

'Again, it will be observed that by the use of the spring-pin, which is directly opposite the valve, the normal tendency of the holder is to retain the valve in working proximity to its seat.

It is to be understood that the valve-stem is actuated in the usual manner.

It is quite apparent that various modifications and changes in the construction and arrangement of parts of the invention can be made Without in the least departing from the nature and principle of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is V 1. The combination with a valveholder having a longitudinal channel and a transverse channel of greater depth than the longitudinal channel, of a valve loosely seated in the longitudinal channel and fashioned to form a space between the holder and the valve, and means to prevent the longitudinal movement of the valve, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a valve-holder having a longitudinal channel and a transverse channel, a valve located in said longitudinal channel and projecting beyond the end of the holder, and fashioned to form a space between the valve and the holder, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a steam-chest, of a valve-holder therein, an outwardly-movable valve carried by the holder, said holder being fashioned to admit steam behind the valve, and means for holding the holder and valve against the steam-chest wall, substantially as described.

4:. In a steam-valve, the combination with a cylinder, of a holder therein having a series of longitudinal grooves and a transverse recess or groove, of a valve spanning the said transverse recess or groove and loosely carried by the holder engaging the projection on the valve and a spring-pin opposite the valve engaging the holder, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a holder having a transverse recess, of a valve loosely seated in the side of the holder having a depending portion engaging the walls of the said recess and fashioned to form a space between the holder and the valve for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE D. HUNTER.

Witnesses:

J. W. OHARRow, O. O. PORTER. 

